Kimberly Groff
August 2014
Kimberly
Groff
,
RN
Cardiac Telemetry/Arrhythmia Unit
Lancaster General Health
Lancaster
,
PA
United States
Kim Groff deserves recognition for the extraordinary care she provided to a challenging patient due to multiple admissions, medication noncompliance, and a difficult psychosocial history. Kim was able to break through to this patient to develop a relationship of trust. She spent time listening to his anxieties about getting a pacemaker and took a sensitive approach to explaining the procedure to him. He finally agreed to the procedure and stated to Kim, "I will only do this for you."
On the day of the procedure Kim made sure she was assigned to this patient and was proactive in rounding with Dr. W, who also spent considerable time with the patient, explaining the procedure. She then networked with the staff in the EP lab to explain the situation and that the patient would only go for the procedure if he could go straight into the procedure room and bypass the holding area. The staff worked well with Kim and came to the room to do all preparations necessary. Kim also called the Anesthesiologist directly to explain why it would not be in the best interest of the patient to go to the holding area and insisted the doctor review the chart prior to the patient's arrival and be ready to sedate the patient.
Kim also offered to work an additional four hours to her scheduled eight hour shift because she had promised this patient she would be here when he returned from the procedure. When it was time for the procedure Kim escorted the patient to the lab and remained with him until he was under sedation. At the completion of her eight hour shift, Kim was not needed for staffing purposes and offered to stay off the clock to fulfill her promise to this patient.
Through this entire experience Kim took time to recognize all team members involved in this patient's care and in response to others' recognition of her she would say, "Anyone would have done this for him." She was recognized by coworkers, colleagues in the lab, and the rounding physician through Touchpoints as well as verbal and written appreciation for going above and beyond.
Kim's dedication to her patient's well-being, no matter the circumstances, makes her standout as an extraordinary nurse. This patient returned from his procedure and expressed a feeling of accomplishment for having faced his fears - all of this thanks to the dedication of this extraordinary nurse.
On the day of the procedure Kim made sure she was assigned to this patient and was proactive in rounding with Dr. W, who also spent considerable time with the patient, explaining the procedure. She then networked with the staff in the EP lab to explain the situation and that the patient would only go for the procedure if he could go straight into the procedure room and bypass the holding area. The staff worked well with Kim and came to the room to do all preparations necessary. Kim also called the Anesthesiologist directly to explain why it would not be in the best interest of the patient to go to the holding area and insisted the doctor review the chart prior to the patient's arrival and be ready to sedate the patient.
Kim also offered to work an additional four hours to her scheduled eight hour shift because she had promised this patient she would be here when he returned from the procedure. When it was time for the procedure Kim escorted the patient to the lab and remained with him until he was under sedation. At the completion of her eight hour shift, Kim was not needed for staffing purposes and offered to stay off the clock to fulfill her promise to this patient.
Through this entire experience Kim took time to recognize all team members involved in this patient's care and in response to others' recognition of her she would say, "Anyone would have done this for him." She was recognized by coworkers, colleagues in the lab, and the rounding physician through Touchpoints as well as verbal and written appreciation for going above and beyond.
Kim's dedication to her patient's well-being, no matter the circumstances, makes her standout as an extraordinary nurse. This patient returned from his procedure and expressed a feeling of accomplishment for having faced his fears - all of this thanks to the dedication of this extraordinary nurse.